From the 'Well of the Retching Cure' to a commuter village on the M9 motorway

Cromwell’s son-in-law and Paulstown

After the Confederate rebellion in the 1640s vast tracks of lands were taken from the original landowners and given to adventurers and soldiers who had served under Oliver Cromwell. Published transcriptions from the Calendar of State Papers in relation to Ireland contain an interesting reference to what appears to be Henry Ireton, son-in-law of Oliver Cromwell, owning considerable amounts of land in Paulstown. [1]

Under the heading ‘Documents Relating to the Duke of York’s Claim in Ireland’, and dated 18 December 1667, a description is given of an address by the Commissioners of Settlement to the Lord Lieutenant (presumably of Ireland who was at the time was James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde) and Council. The address discusses how the Commissioners of Settlement were going about their business of settling new Protestant owners of the lands taken from their previous owners. It then outlines how they received a claim by a Doctor Robert Gorges, on behalf of the Duke of York (who at that time was James the II), that their work was unjust and illegal as the Duke was claiming many lands that were to be given to other people.

The following lands, amongst others in a number of counties, were claimed by Dr. Gorges on behalf of the Duke: